DCL Summer 2017 Megathread - Itineraries are out!

[Ofinn]

I guess it depends on stateroom category (I tried to keep as close to the same square footage as possible), length or cruise and the month/date. Granted, I didn't check every single category out there, just what I would book for my family.

I was comparing it to the vista. The Vista rooms are the same sq footage as dcl across each category.

 

[NancyIL]

I was one of the people who guessed it would be this week. I said it was just a guess, based on when the last promotion ended, as well as when the release was the previous year. I can't imagine they will wait until all the summer itineraries are through their PIF days if that means waiting until June, but hey, maybe they will.

Disney hasn't seemed to mind causing a bit of a ruckus for releases. They frequently announce things ahead of time - sometimes even down to the day and hour such as when BoG reservations came online as well as when the runDisney stuff goes live - even if it causes their sites to time out on many of us.

FWIW - Easter oddly isn't a big deal to much of the US. We do not get any extra days off as our Canadian and UK friends do for it. Many people take time off for Spring Break, which varies depending on where you are. If Disney had to work around our vacations they wouldn't get much done, and if TAs stopped making plans because Disney *might* make an announcement they would miss out on the week with their kids.

When I was a kid, spring break was based on the date of Easter. Now - spring break where I live coincides with that of the University of IL - which is mid-way through the semester in March. If Disney waited until all spring breaks were over, they wouldn't announce anything until the end of April!

 

[SilenceDoGood]

I was comparing it to the vista. The Vista rooms are the same sq footage as dcl across each category.

I didn't check the Carnival Vista. If you read my original post (they one you originally responded to), I only researched RCCL, NCL, Celebrity, Princess and Holland America. I compared stateroom categories and square footage for the type of room best suited to my family's needs.

BTW, thanks for the tip about the Vista. I just checked it out and it looks fantastic. However, they won't be in Europe in 2017 (just this summer). We aren't able to do Europe this year, so we have to wait until next summer. If they did European itineraries in 2017, I would definitely consider the new Carnival Vista as an option.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I'm platinum on DCL, but we're doing Carnival Vista Med in June and have NCL booked for Europe next summer. DCL just isn't worth the price to me any more. I'll still sail DCL if I can get a reasonable price, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll see what they have to offer when they release the next set of dates.

Which Vista cruise are you on? We're on the 6/3, 8 night. I'm considering booking a Vista Caribbean cruise in the fall of 2017, there are some sailings that I could score a Havana Cabana and I really want one of those!

 

[Ofinn]

I didn't check the Carnival Vista. If you read my original post (they one you originally responded to), I only researched RCCL, NCL, Celebrity, Princess and Holland America. I compared stateroom categories and square footage for the type of room best suited to my family's needs.

BTW, thanks for the tip about the Vista. I just checked it out and it looks fantastic. However, they won't be in Europe in 2017 (just this summer). We aren't able to do Europe this year, so we have to wait until next summer. If they did European itineraries in 2017, I would definitely consider the new Carnival Vista as an option.

There building another ship(similar to the Vista) that's due to set sail in Europe in 2018. I would keep that in mind. I know I am. We were supposed to sail to the Med on the Vista this year. I got a good discount on the DCL Iceland/Norway cruise. It was still a couple thousand more than the Med cruise, but Iceland cruises are so rare I decided to hold off on the Med. I have a Southern Caribbean cruise booked on the Vista for December. The Caribbean cruises on the Vista cost more than the European cruises. I haven't completed ruled out the Med this Fall. We don't have to pay for airfare, but not sure I can pull of two trips to Europe in one year.

 

[KalamityJane]

Wow... the Vista looks amazing!

 

[SilenceDoGood]

The Caribbean cruises on the Vista cost more than the European cruises.

Yeah, I noticed that when I started searching different dates on the Vista.

You may, or may not, be able to answer this question about the Vista. But I'll ask anyway. Do you know why the Havana Suites on the Carnival Vista require guests to be 12 and older?

 

[RedSox68]

Well, as the last day of March comes to an end -- and tomorrow being Friday -- I guess we're looking (and hoping) for next week?!?

 

[RedSox68]

I keep waiting too... but I have a feeling DCL will be grossly overpriced anyway and will either have to wait til last minute rates (which are a gamble, may or may not happen) or see about cruising with another line. We are very tempted by the newer ships with Royal and also Norwegian. Priced out a Norwegian 7 night Eastern Caribbean from Miami on their newest Escape - WITH specialty dining and unlimited drinks package... for $2500 - verandah category. This is for 2 adults, 1 child. It's their free at sea promo, plus extra guests sail free, December 10, 2016. Similar cruise on the Disney Magic is $3700 for an inside room, Dec 11th. No alcohol included obviously. On Disney Fantasy it's almost $4500 for an inside stateroom. I know this is for Dec 2016, but still.

Just a warning -- be careful of the "free" package offers on NCL. We got the "free" drink package only to be charged more than $136 for gratuities tacked on to that package. Of all the cruises we have done who gave us free specialty dining, etc., this is the only line that charged us gratuities. To me, that's not free. We wouldn't even drink $136 worth of drinks to make the gratuity even plausible

 

[LeslieG]

Which Vista cruise are you on? We're on the 6/3, 8 night. I'm considering booking a Vista Caribbean cruise in the fall of 2017, there are some sailings that I could score a Havana Cabana and I really want one of those!

Yes, we're on 6/3 also.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Just a warning -- be careful of the "free" package offers on NCL. We got the "free" drink package only to be charged more than $136 for gratuities tacked on to that package. Of all the cruises we have done who gave us free specialty dining, etc., this is the only line that charged us gratuities. To me, that's not free. We wouldn't even drink $136 worth of drinks to make the gratuity even plausible

I saw an "ultimate beverage" or something service charge of about $150 added to the quote, but this was evident right at booking. They add gratuity on top of it on the ship?
Well either way didn't book... yet. Although $2500 (with $100 obc) was amazing even if they did that. Price-wise.
Thanks for the heads up, I heard NCL is bad for upcharges.

 

[RedSox68]

I saw an "ultimate beverage" or something service charge of about $150 added to the quote, but this was evident right at booking. They add gratuity on top of it on the ship?
Well either way didn't book... yet. Although $2500 (with $100 obc) was amazing even if they did that. Price-wise.
Thanks for the heads up, I heard NCL is bad for upcharges.

No, we found out about it at time of booking. We are doing 7-night out of NYC in a verandah for $2,200.

But since we are not getting any other amenities (OBB or anything), I was a little stunned by such a large fee. I called them to comment about it and how I'd never experienced that on other ships, and they ended up putting me through to someone in accounting who was very nice. After I explained that I had never seen that before, and that to me that wasn't "free", she ended up taking the charges off my account -- but we got to keep the drink package. That's why we can't change our cruise, because that won't transfer. [Makes up for what we went through on their ship in Hawaii LOL] Maybe this is going to become the norm on all ships and, in that case, I don't consider it such a great amenity because they will also be charging our onboard account for the regular gratuities!

 

[seidelhd]

Well, as the last day of March comes to an end -- and tomorrow being Friday -- I guess we're looking (and hoping) for next week?!?

We are going to be at WDW next week. I'm going to need to stay in touch to make sure I don't miss any DCL news.

 

[Ofinn]

Yeah, I noticed that when I started searching different dates on the Vista.

You may, or may not, be able to answer this question about the Vista. But I'll ask anyway. Do you know why the Havana Suites on the Carnival Vista require guests to be 12 and older?

I'm guessing so the area doesn't look like the Mickey pool on a Disney ship.

 

[SilenceDoGood]

I'm guessing so the area doesn't look like the Mickey pool on a Disney ship.

Ha! Good one! Makes sense I guess, though I've knows some 12 years old kids who could cause quite a raucous.

 

[Ofinn]

Ha! Good one! Makes sense I guess, though I've knows some 12 years old kids who could cause quite a raucous.

So do I. He lives in my house.

 

[RedSox68]

I just checked out several cruise lines and they all have itineraries up through April or May 2018!

 

[SilenceDoGood]

I just checked out several cruise lines and they all have itineraries up through April or May 2018!

That's exactly right!

 

[scgustafson]

 

[gdafan1]

We are going to be at WDW next week. I'm going to need to stay in touch to make sure I don't miss any DCL news.

How was the weather in july when u did your cruises